'Beddo' by Christina Liljenberg Halstrøm

This minimalst sofa was designed by Christina Liljenberg Halstrøm and is currently displayed at the exhibition ‘Designers Investigating’ in Øksnehallen in Copenhagen. ‘Beddo’ – Japanese for ‘bed’ – is composed of a thin upholstered plane in floor height and a wooden structure for the removable backrest. It was not the young Danish designer’s intention to create a comfy and soft sofa, but rather a simple resting place, which still requires some physical activity – since the lack of corporal motion is one reason for an increasing number of people with back- and joint pain.

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'Concord' by Thomas Pedersen for Stouby

This higly elegant swivel chair was designed by the Danish architect Thomas Pedersen for the old-established Danish manufacturer Stouby. The relatively thin and light base, made from casted aluminum stands in contrast to the wide and cosy, smoothly curved seat shell. ‘Concord’ is available in both fabric and leather, its upholstery is based on a form casted foam in the back and the seat.

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Taastrup Theatre by COBE Copenhagen

The Danish architectural practice COBE recently unveiled this extension of the 1970s local community theatre, situated in a social housing neighborhood of Taastrup closed to Copenhagen. First the architects were commissioned to improve the energy consumption of the building but they used this opportunity to improve the general appeal and functionality of the building by introducing a second (isolating) theatre curtain around the rough concrete structure.

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'Penny' by Globe Zero 4

The Danish design duo Busk Hertzog designed this light and simple occasional table for Globe Zero 4 (a company founded in 2008 when the two Danish brands Globe Furniture and Zero 4 merged and became one shared collection). The filigree structure of the ‘Penny’ builds a perfect contrast to the colourful and ample upholstery Busk Hertzog and Globe Zero 4 have developed years ago.

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'Incitament' in Aalborg, 2009

The Copenhagen based textile designer realised some new stunning light installations. One of them is the 6 x 6 meter neon tapestry for Gigantium, a culture center in Aalborg, which is made from a beautyfully composed raster of neon tubes in several gradings of green.

'Incitament' in Aalborg, 2009

’5240 Vollsmose’ in Odense is a gigantic ornament on the roof top of the local culture center that moves slowly around its own axis. The 4 x 4 m symbol is made from LED and aluminium. According to the multi-cultural residents of this area the pattern is inspired from geometrical patterns in carpet design and architecture, especially from the Islamic world.

'5240 Vollsmose', 2009

'5240 Vollsmose', 2009

'5240 Vollsmose', 2009

to the Astrid Krogh website

'Kile' by Yukari Hotta

The Japanese-born designer Yukari Hotta graduated from Kolding Designschool in Danmark and his creative work seems to reflect his cultural influences. The sophisticated joints of his shelf ‘Kile’ are based on a tradiational Japanese technique, fastened by simple wooden wedges.

'Kile' by Yukari Hotta

'Kile' by Yukari Hotta

seen @ Dagens Design

to the Yukari website

'Color State' by Malene Landgreen

The Danish artist Malene Landgreen is well-kown for her special appreciation for colours and her delicate composition has been integrated in several architectural projects, such as Ålborg Airport, Novo Nordisk, Frederiksberg Gymnasium and Danmarks Radio City in Ørestaden.

Her latest exhibition ‘Color State’ at Kunsthal Charlottenborg in Copenhagen is a rather loud and expressive installation of colour-intense sequences which spans over six exhibition rooms.

For those who won’t have the chance to visit the exhibition until 20th February, here some impressions.

'Color State' by Malene Landgreen

“My work derives meaning from the fact that the uncertain, abstract, unformulated, chaotic and inharmonious, no less than the well-ordered, well-considered and flawless, always relates proportionally to something else. No matter how incomprehensible and ungraspable it might be, indeed precisely because it is. It’s all about relations and proportions. That applies in art, in architecture and in life”, says Malene Landgreen.

'Color State' by Malene Landgreen

'Color State' by Malene Landgreen

'Color State' by Malene Landgreen

'Color State' by Malene Landgreen

to the Malene Landgreen website

Birkerød Sports and Leisure Centre

The Danish practice schmidt hammer lasse architects realised this sports centre in Birkerød, a small town in the north of Copenhagen. The façade’s long sweeping lines and striking sculptural roof contours  evoke a sense of movement and activity. This is underlined by a giant sun blind system designed by the Danish textile designer Astrid Krogh.

Birkerød Sports and Leisure Centre

“The sports and activity centre is a multifunctional structure. The new building includes a large multipurpose hall with enough space to accommodate two handball courts with accompanying mobile spectator stands, as well as a V.I.P. lounge. The centre also houses two smaller halls. This means the complex can accommodate major sporting events, concerts and other cultural events, but also be adapted for school sporting events and local sports initiatives requiring smaller, more intimate settings. 

The new centre is located in the midst of existing football pitches and the old public swimming baths, both of which have received a facelift, and now include a new grandstand for the football pitch and a full-scale remodelling of the public swimming baths which are now significantly larger. This bridges the gap between the existing sports and recreational facilities to create a more coherent offer for sports and cultural activities in Birkerød.”

Birkerød Sports and Leisure Centre

“The new centre represents a quantum leap from the typical Danish sports facilities typically characterised by large rectangular halls with laminated wood arches. Birkerød Sports centre is very different in terms of both flexibility and design. 

The aesthetics and design of Birkerød Sports centre are immediately distinctive – with its long curves it is a bold and beautiful sculptured focal point for the local community, combining sports, cultural and recreational activities in the Birkerød area.”

Birkerød Sports and Leisure Centre

“The series of façades are decorated by graphic artist Astrid Krogh, Denmark. The black circles form interconnected patterns when the louvres are closed and daylight shines in through the oblong window sections. The façades were developed especially for this building project and have since been honoured by inclusion in the Danish Ministry of Culture’s Canon for Design and Craft Art.”

Birkerød Sports and Leisure Centre

Birkerød Sports and Leisure Centre

to the schmidt hammer lassen architects profile @ Architonic

Bordings Independent School by Dorte Mandrup Architects, photo by Torben Eskerod

Earlier this year the Danish Dorte Mandrup Architects realised the extension of the Bordings Independent School close to the beautiful lakes of Østerbro in Copenhagen.

View from the school yard, photo by Torben Eskerod

Here is what the architects explain:

The site and surroundings
The existing buildings of Bordings Independent School are beautifully situated by the lakes in Copenhagen. The main building is set back from the road, and the façade towards the lakes is primarily shaped by the new building, the gym and the gates toward the two courts of the school.
The school is situated between two urban structures, the traditional block-structure with 4-5 storey buildings and the close and intimate structure of the row houses “Kartoffelrækkerne”.
The façade facing the lakes is characterized by the alternation between the block structure and the row house structure, the expression is diverse and green.

Extension of the Bordings Independent School by Dorte Mandrup Architects, photo by Torben Eskerod

Architectural main-idea
The urban main idea is to create a building that expresses the transition between the larger scale of the block-structure and the smaller and more intimate scale of the row houses. Despite the site’s location in the extension of the traditional block and to emphasize the transition to a smaller scale, the building is located as a separate element between the two scale steps.
Through a shift in the main volume of the façade, the building is cut away from the existing building, and thereby is perceived as a separated yet harmonious part of the façade as a whole.

The composition of the new building is sculptural as opposed to the surface composition of the block to enhance the depth in the transition from the street façade to the school courtyard behind.

The new building is formed to ensure a large degree of flexibility, so the use of the inner spaces can change over time.

The building consists of three elements: the imprint into the ground, the volume and the screen

The imprint

An area larger than the footprint of the building is excavated creating a courtyard-area below the existing courtyard. This opens the lower façade to the light, and creates an extra outer space in relation to the basement.

Façade made of perforated Corten Steel, photo by Torben Eskerod

The Volume

The concrete slabs are carried by the facades parallel to the existing neighbouring building. This creates a maximum of flexibility without carrying pillars or dividing walls. Towards east and west the facades are fully glazed for a maximum of light transmission. The carrying facades are done in recycled bricks from the building that was demolished from the site. The tradition of the pupils being allowed to do an inscription in a brick is thereby carried on into the new building and the future of the school.

The Screen

The screen is done in perforated Corten Steel. It is folded around the corner and the new balcony to create a façade parallel to the façade of the existing gym. The difference between the façade line and the rectangle of the volume creates a depth in the façade that diffuses and brings warmth to the light before entering the building. The screen thus works as a sunscreen as well as a visual screen towards the street. Finally cuts in the screen frames specific views towards the lake.

Basement, Bordings Independent School by Dorte Mandrup Architects, photo by Torben Eskerod

Entry

The building is entered from the big excavated staircase towards east and from the two steel staircases towards east and west.

The Basement

The basement houses the music classes for amplified music, a small recording studio and storage. The music classroom can be opened through a large sliding door towards the outside space and the large staircase that can serve as seating for an audience on summer nights.

Ground Floor

The ground floor consists of one large room serving primarily as classroom for music classes for acoustical instruments and at the same time as a gathering hall for the daily gatherings and special events for the whole school. Toilet, wardrobe and storage are placed in a zone towards the existing neighbouring building.

First Floor

The first floor also consists of one room for the art and crafts classes. In the corner, and in open connection to the primary room, large sinks and steel tables are placed in a niche. The storage zone is again placed towards the existing neighbour.

Materials and construction

The house is built as a simple concrete structure with an outer brick façade in recycled bricks. The screen is done in perforated corten steel sheets. Both materials patinate beautifully and need no maintenance.

The facades are done in oil treated hardwood frames with outside mullions of painted aluminium. 

The basements walls inside and out are done in on-site cast concrete. The upper staircases are done in painted steel. The floors are done in linoleum.

to the Dorte Mandrup Architects website

Apartment Harbour Isle by Lundgaard and Tranberg Architects

Harbour Isle Apartments by the Danish architect are part of the new Havneholmen area of Copenhagen, which is known as a former industrial area that has been transformed into a residential and business zone, taking better advantage of the harbour front location.

A former industrial area has been transformed into a residential and business zone

The project consists of 236 apartments in two U-shaped blocks with inner courtyards opening towards the harbour. Varying heights of 5 to 8 storeys visually reduce the scale of the project and, along with the thin proportions of the glass partitions, give the white façades a light and graceful appearance. The entire project, including the projecting bays, is rendered in warm white stucco with teak fenestration, giving the entire project a maritime feel.

Apartment Harbour Isle by Lundgaard and Tranberg Architects

to Lundgaard and Tranberg Architects